employ

Where does the word "employ" come from? It comes from Latin implicare, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).

Employ’s story begins in Latin: implicare meant “to involve, enfold.” 'in-' plus 'plicare', to fold. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as emploier. The same root gives 'imply' and 'implicate'. It reached English by 1400s as employ. 'employee' dates from the 1800s. Today, employ means to give work to; to use.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient implicare "to involve, enfold", 'in-' plus 'plicare', to fold.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval emploier "to use", the same root gives 'imply' and 'implicate'.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1400s employ "to use", 'employee' dates from the 1800s.